A Paradigm Shift
LAXMI NARAYAN TRIPATHI is the Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of the Kinaar Akhada, a transgender rights activist, dancer and actress. She was the first transgender person to represent Asia-Pacific at a UN task meeting in 2008 and represented the region again at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne. She works with numerous NGOs, including the Astitva Trust, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network and Maharashtra Trithiya Panthi Sangatana, to promote the equality of transgender individuals. She was one of several petitioners in the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment recognizing the ‘third gender’ and is a member of the core committee set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for Transgender Rights and Upliftment. She is the subject of two books, Me Hijra, Me Laxmi (written by R. Raj Rao) and Red Lipstick: The Men in My Life (written by Pooja Pande).
Transgender - how did this community go from revered to living on the fringes of society? That is the plight of India’s estimated 5 million “hijras.” Respected by the Mughals, but considered criminals by British colonisers, today many live as sex workers and beggars.
India’s Trans women community, or Hijra, has been a part of the subcontinent for about as long as civilization has. With a recorded history of over 4,000 years and being mentioned in ancient texts, the Hijra community is a testament to the sexual diversity that is integral yet often forgotten in Indian culture.
The Hijra community has been mentioned in ancient literature, the most known of which is the Kama Sutra, a Hindu text on human sexual behavior written sometime between 400 BCE and 200 CE. Hijra characters hold significant roles in some of the most important texts of Hinduism, including the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. One of the many forms of Shiva, a principal Hindu deity, involves him merging with his wife, Parvati, to become the androgynous Ardhanari, who holds special significance to many in the Hijra community. Hijras held important positions in court and various facets of administration during the Mughal-era India, from the 16th to 19th century. They were also considered to hold religious authority and were sought out for blessings, particularly during religious ceremonies.
However, when the Indian subcontinent came under colonial rule during the 19th century, British authorities sought to eradicate and criminalize the Hijra community through various laws. These laws were later repealed after India attained independence.
While the Hijra community is still revered by society at large and celebrated in religious and spiritual ceremonies, they are often the victims of abuse and discrimination. Violence and hate crimes against the community are common, as is housing and other discrimination.
Although the hijras are human beings full of efficiency and human dignity beyond the male-female dichotomy, government has not taken proper initiatives for their upliftment. Our society has just rejected their different physical complexities.
Hijras are boycotted from their own family, society, and state. Their own family hide them to cover the so called ‘shame’ and neglect the truth that hijras are not responsible for what they are. Society ignores the reality that they are just the third gender. Their gender is naturally constructed as diverse. For their diverse identity they cannot even inherit their family properties. Their funeral activities are also not functioned properly as the persons related to those rituals are not willing to conduct funeral activities when he comes to know that it’s a dead body of a hijra!
Although some attempts are taken for the hijras by government and some non-governmental organisations who work for conserving human rights, those are really insufficient. We cannot step forward leaving these people having diverse gender identity far behind. Obviously they have the ability to serve various sectors, but at present they are not playing that role just because of not getting opportunity. They could become talented doctors, engineers, intelligent scientists, scholars and what not?
Strength of a Man Heart of a Woman
The plight of the Hijra Community (Third/Neutral gender) is not hidden from anyone but still no action has been taken towards providing a sustainable employment/ income source for them. They are left with a choice to either beg on the roads or to indulge in Skin Trade. It was surprising to see that the grants too were only focused in ways of distributing condoms or taking HIV/ safe sex sessions. Which we feel is just another way of labelling/ approving their indulgence in skin trade.
We at Kineer believe that our community has gaps where the Hijras can fit perfectly. For example at India it is considered unsafe for a girl/ lady to travel by a cab/taxi alone. Our question is why the cabs of the leading taxi service companies can’t be operated by the members of the third gender. This would not only eradicate the concern of safety for women travellers but would also provide a dignified employment opportunity for the Hijra.
During my tenure at the healthcare industry I faced a unique challenge - Providing male attendants for male patients and female attendants for female patients. This would drastically increase my manpower cost for GDAs. This led to a thought - ' Could two issues self correct if merged' What if we hire the third gender which could not only resolve this issue but also assist in the paradigm shift for them being treated as care givers henceforth. A person with the strength of a man and a heart of a woman, who could lift a stretcher if required and also mother a patient if needed.
Same applies to washroom attendants - Male for Male and Female for Female - wouldn't the neutral gender be the perfect fit?
We would like to summarize with just two questions to you - 'If not NOW then WHEN?' and 'If not US then WHO?'
Initiatives been worked upon –
a) Kineer Packaged drinking water plants
b) Kineer Cosmetics and washroom amenities range
c) Kineer Education platform
d) Kineer Mental health Helpline
e) Kineer National Cricket league
f) Kineer manpower Placement and Diversity inclusion platform
g) Kineer corrective surgeries helpline
h) Kineer Security Services
i) Kineer Dance and fine arts academy
j) Kineer BPO
k) Kineer apparels and lifestyle accessories
l) Trans Queen India events
Kineer Services Pvt. Ltd was formed with a vision bringing about a Paradigm Shift for the members of the sexual minorities. We are not only working towards creating dignified employment opportunities for the members of the sexual minorities, but is also working towards ensuring the mental and physical health of this neglected community is taken care of.
a) Kineer Packaged Drinking water
‘Give a person a fish and he would eat for a day – teach him how to fish and he can feed himself for a lifetime’ – we at Kineer believe that the only way that we can bring about a change is to create Sustainable business models to empower this neglected community.
The first Phase was initiated with the launch of our Kineer – Packaged Drinking water (Blessed to quench your thirst) plants at Delhi. Manned and managed by the members of this community, Kineer packaged water is the first of its kind in the world.
The response has been overwhelming and we partnered with procurement platform ProTaiga with a 200 million contract. Reputed companies such as Vistara Airlines, The Lalit Hotels and many more have extended their support by pledging to procure Kineer water for their establishments.
b) Kineer cosmetic Range
We have also initiated our cosmetics and bathroom amenities range for Hotels which apart from ensuring employment for this neglected community, is working towards reducing use of plastics in packaging. Our range offers a 70% reduction in plastic waste generated.
c) Kineer Education Platform
We are working towards Skill development and placement opportunities for the sexual minorities too. We have already initiated our online and offline English learning app for the members so that they may break the mold of hesitation and beginning their journey at the comfort of their homes.
We have collaborated with companies who wish to place these members as Security Escorts/ Drivers/ telephone operators/ Sales Force/ F&B Stewards etc. and are now in the process of imparting training as per the job description provided by these companies.
d) Kineer Mental Health Helpline
The turmoil which a child goes thru when he/ she discovers that their mind does not comprehend the body that they are in is unimaginable. A state where they can’t even confide in family or friends, a state where a million and one questions cross their mind, a state where they contemplate ending it all.
We at Kineer have tied up with mental care experts both from India and the US and are in the process of launching our Kineer help line which would not only extend support in guiding them thru this traumatizing phase but would also assist with any medical/ social assistance required.
e) Kineer National Cricket Team
A country where Cricket is religion, why should this community be left out? We at Kineer are working towards forming the first ever Trans Gender cricket team.
f) Kineer manpower placement and Diversity inclusion Platform We at Kineer understand that there are many challenges involved in ensuring a smooth transition of placement for the members of the sexual minorities, at the client’s work place. These would involve regular sensitization session of the existing members of the client and also hand holding & mentoring of the member being placed.
Kineer has initiated its Placement platform where in companies can outsource their placement requirements and we would ensure all apprehensions are taken care of by us.
g) Kineer corrective surgeries
Corrective surgeries for the members bring about a cloud of uncertainties and fear. We at Kineer are working towards tieing up with Hospitals of repute to bring about a platform where all basic apprehensions and fear are addressed with a formal structure.
h) Kineer Security services
The Mughals entrusted the Hijras with the responsibility of protecting their women and children. Kineer is working towards bringing the era back by providing highly trained bodyguards and security personnel. An elite force which will ensure your loved ones well being at all costs.
i) Kineer dance and fine arts
‘Dance connects your souls and breaks all Barriers’ – a trained classical dancer Ms. Laxmi Narayan believes that only when a person peruses an art form can he truly connect with his soul. Kineer would take this vision forward by initiating Dance and fine arts academies, which would offer members of the sexual minorities to showcase their talent and make a living out of their expertise.
j) Kineer BPOs
The biggest challenge that any BPO faces is manpower retrenchment. With an average life span of less than 5 months the BPOs face the biggest expense in training and retaining manpower. The solution – a workforce that would stay put.
A medium where the sexual orientation of the person on the other line not being of concern, BPOs offer the perfect haven for a symbiotic and beneficial relationship.
Kineer is working towards empowering this change.
k) Kineer apparels and lifestyle range
We are also working towards apparel brand which not only empowers employment opportunities but also assists in this talented community showcasing their artistic capabilities.
l) Trans Queen beauty Pageants
Kineer would also be organizing beauty pageants for the sexual minorities.
Come join us in bringing about this paradigm shift – [email protected]
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